Nothing is comparable to the warm feeling of cozying up in the blanket or waking up late with a steaming cup of cocoa or coffee in your hand while trying to gaze through the blanket of mist outside your bedside window. Well, winter, though it relieves us from the months of scorching heat, does come with some shortcomings of its own.
Why Winter Causes Stiffness and Fatigue?
Not only does it bring a baggage of hair and skin woes like dandruff, flaky scalp, chapped lips, and winter acne, but it also torments us with viral infections, body aches, joint and arthritic pain. Additionally, winter often reduces body activity, making one sluggish throughout the day. This sudden winter lethargy and body stiffness chiefly occur due to a dip in blood circulation, which prevents the body from feeling warm. If you’re looking for ways to combat these issues, winter yoga poses might just be the answer.
Also Read: Immunity Booster: These Yoga Postures Ensure Both Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing
Benefits of Yoga for Winter Health and Immunity
You might gulp down glasses of kadhas or consume winter-warming foods, but still, getting up from the bed might feel like a real chore. The ultimate solution to relieve lethargy, combat joint pain in winter, and keep the body warm is nothing but yoga. This time-less physical activity not only fortifies the immune system, preventing seasonal flu and infections, but also helps boost energy in winter with yoga. Furthermore, it aids in improving blood circulation, fighting signs of sluggishness, and maintaining high energy levels throughout the day.
So, what are you waiting for? Let go of your morning blues, grab a yoga mat, and indulge in these easy-to-do yogasanas to witness the difference in energy levels and body activity within a week. Whether you are seeking to boost circulation during winter or simply stay active, yoga is your go-to remedy!
5 Best Yoga Poses To Stay Warm In Cold Weather
1. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bent Pose)
Start the pose with your legs stretched out forward. While lifting your arms up, keep your back straight. Exhale and bend forward while keeping your arms horizontal to your legs. Try to hold your big toes with your fingers and keep this position for 30 seconds.
Benefits:
The seated forward bend pose is an extremely immune-boosting pose. It not only improves digestion, and soothes headaches but also prevents anxiety and relieves mental and body fatigue. Performing it regularly also increases appetite, reduces obesity, and helps remedy various anomalies.
2. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Lie flat on your stomach and place your head on the ground. Keep both your hands on either side of your shoulders. Slowly, put pressure on your palms and lift your body up from the torso while stretching your back and belly muscles. Straighten out your arms and keep your shoulder blades pressed against your back. Fix gaze at a point on the ceiling and hold this posture for about 15-30 seconds and exhale as you return to the starting position.
Benefits:
The cobra pose not only tones the abdomen but also helps stretch out the chest and lungs. It is extremely pivotal for soothing sciatica, strengthening the spine and providing relief from asthmatic symptoms. It is even good for boosting the body with warmth and energy.
3. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
Lie flat on your stomach and raise both the legs and torso backward. Extend your arms backward and grasp both the feet with your hands. Hold this position for as long as possible and keep inhaling normally. Return to the starting position and repeat the asana for 5-6 times.
Benefits:
The bow pose is an absolute remedy for providing relief from back problems, and diminishing stress and strain. Once done properly, this asana opens the chest, neck and shoulders, stretches and strengthens both the front and back of the body, opens the muscles of the arms and legs, thus avoiding sudden muscle strains and pulls.
4. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Stand straight while keeping your feet joined. Rest your hands on either side of the body. Slowly spread your legs apart. Lift your right hand up. Take a deep breath and bend towards your left and balance by keeping the left palm on the floor. Tilt your head upwards and fix your gaze on the right-hand fingertips and count up to 20. Repeat the posture while bending towards right. Take 1 minute of rest and continue the entire posture for two more times.
Benefits:
The Triangle Pose is quintessential for improving the physical equilibrium while alleviating anxiety, sciatica, back and arthritic pain. It holds high significance as it stretches and strengthens the spine, arms, and chest and also improves appetite and digestion.
5. Sarvangasana (Shoulder-Stand Pose)
Lie flat on the ground with your legs laid side-by-side and both arms resting on either side of the body. Swing your legs up in such a way so that your legs, buttocks and hip is up in the air and support your body with your elbows attached to the ground. While settling into the pose, ensure that the hold your body properly keeping your legs and spine straight. Hold the pose for 30-40 secs while breathing normally. Slowly bring down your legs back to Shavasana pose and repeat 2-3 times.
Benefits:
Deemed as the “Mother of all Poses”, the shoulder stand pose is extremely beneficial to soothe the nerves, calm the mind and stabilize secretion of hormones from the thyroid and parathyroid gland while normalizing their functions. By fortifying the arms, legs, spine and lungs, it triggers blood flow to the roots of the spinal nerves, brain cells etc. Practicing this pose every day, relaxes the mind and increases patience, concentration and clarity.
Share your favorite winter yoga pose in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
What yoga poses are best for winter stiffness?
Poses like Downward Dog, Cat-Cow, and Child’s Pose help relieve winter stiffness and improve flexibility.
How does yoga help with joint stiffness in winter?
Yoga improves blood circulation, warms up the muscles, and reduces joint stiffness during the colder months.
Is it safe to practice yoga in cold weather?
Yes, practicing yoga in a warm indoor space helps combat winter stiffness while keeping the body safe and supple.
How often should I do yoga to prevent winter stiffness?
Practicing yoga 3-4 times a week can effectively prevent and relieve stiffness during winter.
Does yoga help with cold-weather muscle pain?
Yes, yoga poses like Pigeon Pose and Warrior I release tension and reduce muscle pain caused by cold weather.
Can yoga improve circulation in winter?
Absolutely, yoga poses like Sun Salutations and Standing Forward Bend boost circulation and warm the body.
(This article is reviewed by Kalyani Krishna Chief Content Editor)
Author Profile
Soumita Basu:
Soumita Basu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy and is keenly interested in Ayurveda, home remedies, yoga, fitness, diagnostics, and beauty. With nearly 6 years of experience, she produces evidence-based health content, including articles, videos, and infographics, to provide valuable insights to her audience.
References:
- Effect of Winter Outdoor Physical Activity on Body Composition and Motor Performance of Polish Adult Men
Authors: Monika Stanaszek 1, Jarosław Fugiel 2, Sławomir Kozieł 3, Anna Sebastjan 2, Agnieszka Suder 4,*, Zofia Ignasiak 2
Editor: Louise A Kelly
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10454497/
- Exercise in Winter: A Hypothesis from Persian Medicine to Improve Healthy Lifestyle
April 2023International journal of Sport Studies for Health 6(1):43-44
DOI:10.61838/kman.intjssh.6.1.8
Authors: Marzieh beygom Siahpoosh and Soheil Gholibeygi